Ok, so I read an article on the DM Rag website (and Omaha.com) about DM getting picked over for hosting the MVC conference tourney, at least until 2011. One of the factors mentioned was that the WFA holds fewer seats than the arena in STL (and KC and Omaha for that matter). Bummer for DM. I recall a year or two ago, the NCAA not selecting DM to host the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Again, capacity was an issue. WTF? (also, the article says in a couple places the cap. is 15,500, whereas on the IEC website, cap. for b-ball is listed at 16,110... who's spinning here?)
My question is, what were they THINKING when designing the building? I recall budgets and funding were an issue when the Iowa Events Center was being constructed, but cripes, didn't anyone do their homework? Did anyone contact the NCAA as to what minimum capacity would be required to host a men's tourney site, or the wrestling championships, or even a conference tourney? Yeah, DSM has a 1st/2nd rounder for the women's tourney this year, but if there isn't an
ISU, Drake, UNI or
EIU, I can't imagine attendance will be all that impressive.
Marty and Miller were talking about this recently and the lack of big name events coming to the place (please refrain from talking about Bon Jovi... it's in another thread)... they are going to Omaha and KC.. they also mentioned Stars attendance is dismal. It seems that when I was in central Iowa in the 90s, Ames/Hilton got better acts. I applaud DM and Polk County for building a nice venue for Iowa, but it just seems some things weren't done right in the construction planning and management of the facilities.
what does everyone think of the facility for those who have been there ? (I haven't, just on the outside) How does it compare to other arenas?
